First published in 1989 this remains one of the few books to look at black women's experience of domestic violence.

An introductory section provides an international perspective on violence against black and third world women and the response of agencies. It then reports on research undertaken among women in black communities in London to identify the prevalence of violence and the effectiveness of the response of statutory and voluntary agencies.

Issues of housing and tenancy status, women and the law and women and the police response are considered. A detailed analysis of the contrasting policies in two London boroughs is provided. The role of the voluntary sector, the refuge movement and approaches to challenging racism in this sector are considered.

It has been reissued by Whiting and Birch with a new introduction and updated bibliography.